Davey: Fall in business turnover demands longer EU transition period

Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has today called on the Government to extend the transition period and reverse damaging immigration polices because of the impact of the coronavirus crisis on business.

The call comes in response to figures released by the ONS today which reveal 61% of businesses reported a decrease in turnover outside of normal range in England, compared with 66% in Wales, 65% in Scotland and 63% in Northern Ireland between 20 April and 3 May 2020.

Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

"A quick recovery by the end of 2020 is a pipe dream. Businesses will likely continue to struggle next year as both a result of the coronavirus crisis and a possible no-deal Brexit with our closest trading partners in the EU.

"The end to free movement across Europe will make it increasingly hard for business to hire the workers they need. To add insult to injury, the Government has now made attracting workers from across the world even harder with its immigration points system.

"Coronavirus is the biggest danger to business since the financial crisis and the Government only seeks to compound their difficulties by cutting off access both to workers and markets across Europe.

"If we are to support business all the way through to the end of this pandemic, we must extend the transition period with the EU and reverse the damaging immigration polices this Government is pursuing."

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